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British Airways links two Capitals with the Superjumbo

First and Club World (business class) customers heading to Heathrow on British Airways' inaugural A380 from Washington today will have had the added bonus of enjoying the airline's newly re-launched lounge at the US Capital's airport, the company said Oct. 15.

The upgraded lounge can now host 200 customers, thanks to 10,000 square feet of space. It features intimate bar areas, business facilities, fine dining, shower suites and a private VIP area.

Reflecting the style of the Galleries flagship lounges at London Heathrow's Terminal 5, the lounge is designed with areas where customers can relax and unwind, or refresh and work.

A private dining room is available for customers travelling in First which offers comfort and privacy and those travelling in Club World can enjoy their pre-flight dining with views over the runway. For people wanting a lighter snack, a new deli area offers a range of options along with Twinings tea, freshly ground Fairtrade coffee. A stylish new bar area offers a range of complimentary wines and spirits.

The Washington lounge is the latest in a line to be re-launched, following Newark, Cape Town, Edinburgh and Belfast City.

The extra space will be put to good use as the airline's A380s - the largest commercial aircraft in the sky - are capable of accommodating up to 469 customers, including 97 in Club World and 14 in First.

The flight is the first and only non-stop A380 service between the two nations' capitals and the aircraft offers a choice of British Airways' First, Club World, World Traveller Plus and World Traveller cabins.

The airline will initially operate five A380 services a week from Washington Dulles. This will increase from the end of October to a daily A380 service, in conjunction with the daily BA292, operated by a Boeing 747 and the thrice weekly BA264, operated by a Boeing 777.

British Airways currently flies its A380 aircraft from Los Angeles, Hong Kong and Johannesburg, with flights to Singapore beginning on October 28, 2014 and San Francisco in April 2015.

British Airways has ordered 12 A380s for delivery by 2016 as part of a £5bn investment in new aircraft, smarter cabins, elegant lounges, and new technologies to make life more comfortable in the air and on the ground.

Customers can book at ba.com.

British Airways flies to 179 destinations, 9 destinations in the UK, 84 in Europe and 86 in the rest of the world.